Miniature electric advertising sign



June 2 1927. 1 633 883 R. E. BENHAM ET AL MINIATURE ELECTRIC ADVERTISING SIGN Filed June 15. 1923 grwewlorbt fig; E. {47mm 5. 13s;

Patented June 28, 1927.

UNITED STATES enses PATENT o-Fr cia.

ROY E. BENHAlVI AND HOMER B. ROSS, OF RICHMOND, INDlANA.

MINIATURE ELECTRIC -ADVERTISING SIGN.

Application filed June 15, 1923. Serial No. 645,673.

The object of our present invention, broadly speaking, is to provide a construction of the nature set forth which is simple in construction, attractive in appearance,

adapted to give a high degree of efliciency in practice, and which can be manufactured, sold, and installed at a comparatively low price.

Our invention is intended, rimarily, as

M an attractive and novel advertising feature for indoor display, being especially intended for drawing the attention of customers to a particular line of goods, which are usually shown in connection therewith, and

5 thereby increasing the sales thereof to an appreciable extent. Gther minor objects and particular advantages thereof will oe brought out in the course of the following description and that which is new will be correlated in the appended claim.

One way of carrying out the principles of our invention in a practical and eii'icient manner is shown in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a face view 2 showing our invention in elevation, as it would appear in practice, but without a specific advertisement which normally would be shown thereon. Figure 2 is a top or edge view of the invention. And Flgure 3 is an end elevation thereof.

Similar indices denote like parts through out the several views.

In order that the construction, the operation, and'the several advantages of our invention may be more fully understood and appreciated we will now take up a detailed description thereof, in which we will set forth the invention as fully and as comprehensively as we may.

In the drawings letter A denotes ashelf, on which our sign may be located substantially as shown in Figure 1.

Numerals 1 and 2 denote vertical posts, which are spaced apart and are identical with each other. Numerals 3 and 1 denote cuplike sockets, each having a base, 5 and 6 respectively, forming a bottom for its socket, which bases extend out beyond the socket proper with apertures therethrough to receive nails or screws '7 and 8 respectively to be driven through said apertures into the shelf A whereby the sockets are securely retained in place.

The lower ends of the posts 1 and 2 fit snugly into said sockets whereby the posts are retained removably in vertical position.

plan

The frame comprises the rails 9 and 10, and he stiles 11 and 12. The said members of the frame are rigidly secured togetl'ier, and the frame thus formed is rigidly secared to and extends between the posts 1 and 2, substantially as shown.

Secured on the rear of said frame is the backing 13, which also extends out onto the rear faces of the posts 1 and 2, and as the backingis secured by nails or tacks 14; (or otherwise) to both the frame and the posts it "forms one means of securing the frame into connection with the posts.

Attached to the face of the backing and extending between the rails 9 and 10 and the stiles 11 and 12 is a sheet 15 on which an advertisement (or advertisements) may be printed or otherwise displayed.

Said sheet 15 may be removably secured. to the face of the backing by means of thumb-tacks 16, or otherwise as desired.

Secured to and extending out from the forward faces of the upper end portions of the posts 1 and 2 are the electric-light fixtures 17 and 18, respectively, each of which has an electric-light bulb 19 and 20, respectively, detachably secured therein.

Detachably secured to each fixture, 17 and 18, and extending outward over the respective bulbs 19 and 20, are the respective visors or reflectors 21 and 22, which are disposed at such angles whereby the light from the bulbs will be directed toward the central portion of the sheet 15 and concentrated upon the advertisement carried thereby.

The wiring comprises the two wires, 23 and 24, which extend back from the fixture 1, and the two wires 25 and 26 which extend back from the fixture 2. The main circuit wires are denoted by the numerals 27 and 28. The wires 24, 26 and 27 are connected by the coupling 29; and the wires 28, 25 and 28 are connected by the coupling 30, all substantially as shown in the drawings.

In practice the sign is set up upon a shelf, or otherwheres, the sign being preferably in miniature, that is the height of the entire sign is about equal to the height of a can of tomatoes or other canned goods, or even twice the height thereof as desired, whereby the goods may be stacked up on each side or around the sign, the advertisement being appropriate to the goods associated therewith. Or the advertisement may refer to goods not shown, or it may refer to other goods than that in cans or packages.

Now if the electric current be turned on it Will be apparent that the lights directed upon the sign will not only illuminate the sign but will, to a less degree, illuminate the goods there-around, and if desired a number of such signs will contribute to lighting the room in which the signs are located. and will also provide a very attractive decoration for the room.

It is also contemplated that such signs will make very attractive Window decorations, especially When associated with goods to which the advertisements relate.

Having now fully shown and described our invention, What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

A miniature electric advertising sign comprising a pair of spaced apart vertical posts, a socket for the lower end of each post, means for rigidly securing the sockets to a flat surface, a pair of rails, a pair of stiles located at right-angles to the rails and rigidly connected therewith, the rails and the stiles forming a frame located between said posts, backing secured to the roar sides of the frame members and extending out over the rear sides of the posts and secured thereto thereby rigidly securing the frame to the posts, a sheet of material attached to the face 01": the backing and extending between the members of the frame and adapted to have an advertisementprinted thereon alight fixture extending out, tron'i the upper portion of each post, and a reflector connected to each post and arranged to direct the light from the respective fixtures onto said sheet wh'ch carries an advertisement.

ROY E. BENHAM. HOMER B. ROSS. 

